Rockets seek aggressive Ariza as he adjusts to new role

Former Laker adjusting to role as a go-to player

Published 5:00 am, Monday, October 12, 2009

Trevor Ariza, left, got off to a slow start against the Spurs and Celtics but showed signs of life against the Magic.

Trevor Ariza, left, got off to a slow start against the Spurs and Celtics but showed signs of life against the Magic.

Photo: Eric Gay, AP

Rockets seek aggressive Ariza as he adjusts to new role

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For a guy who says little and says it softly, Trevor Ariza's body language was screaming.

He had been misfiring for a week, with the most recent misses or turnovers quickly accompanied by a shrug and shake of the head. He had come to the Rockets to expand his game, with plans to take it from sidekick to star. But now, even the shots that he sank so reliably in the Lakers' championship run were betraying him.

Through 2½ preseason games, he had made five of 25 attempts, missing his first five Friday in Orlando. Then late in his first-half stint of playing time, he grabbed a rebound and went the length of the floor, scoring in traffic. He began the second half with a 3-pointer and 53 seconds later, drained another.

He did not immediately turn everything around. He missed a few of the shots he would consider routine. But he seemed to relax and recoup confidence, a key step in the transition that will be a key to the Rockets' season.

Gaining confidence

“Just seeing a couple shots go in, I definitely got my confidence back up,” said Ariza, 24, who is averaging eight points on 29 percent shooting in the preseason's first three games. “A couple shots started falling for me.

“As far as the city and everybody, it's been easy for me. But on the floor, it's been a little rough. As far as everything else, (Friday) it loosened up for me and I got a little more confidence.”

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has said Ariza does not have to become a star scorer for the acquisition to work for the Rockets, insisting Ariza's all-around production with the Lakers would be enough for the Rockets.

But he and coach Rick Adelman believe Ariza is capable of more, faith that convinced Ariza to sign a five-year, $34 million contract with the Rockets.

“He's got to just play,” Adelman said. “He's got to keep playing and trying things, can't be hesitant. As he gets hesitant, he gets around his guy and gets off-balance, rather than just be aggressive. He has to be aggressive and we'll take it from there. I thought he passed up a couple early. He's got to keep taking them.

“With new responsibilities, this is just part of it. You've got to keep doing it or you're not going to learn how to be aggressive, how to be a guy that attacks the other team. It's not unusual to be the way it is right now.”

Adelman said he would look to put Ariza. a 6-8 swingman, in positions to do what he does best, but for now, heading into tonight's game against Milwaukee at Toyota Center, he wants to give him room to explore the scoring chances available to him.

Ariza said he was “never a volume shooter,” even in high school. But the transition could be as much about dealing with new responsibilities and expectations.

McGrady can identify

“For him, he's coming off a championship season,” said Tracy McGrady, who went through a similar process when he went from Toronto to Orlando. “He played with the greatest player in our league (Kobe Bryant). He played with an All-Star team, Kobe, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom. A lot of pressure was off him. He had to really just come in and do his part, didn't really have to do that much.

“Going from that team to a team that is really relying on you, because you are replacing a guy that did a lot for our team last year, Ron Artest, a lot is going to be asked of him. Now that Yao (Ming) is out and I'm not 100 percent, a lot more pressure is going to be on him.

“It's a situation where you have to embrace it. He's up for the challenge. Just have fun with it.”

McGrady had averaged 15.8 points per game when he made his move to a greater role, and that change did not come with the same expectations because it was forced on him by Grant Hill's injury.

Rockets injuries could bring similar scoring opportunities for Ariza. Though the Rockets do not expect the same sort of scoring jump McGrady had in Orlando, Ariza has seen scoring chances he had not had, and has been experimenting with offensive options he has not had, especially off the dribble.

“I'm not going to use that as an excuse,” he said. “It's not an excuse. It's just something that I have to do. They brought me here because they believe I can do something and I got to do it. I believe I can do it. It's just a little tough getting used to it.

“I'm just trying to find places I'm comfortable. I'm rushing a little bit, trying to do too much. Couple more games and practices and I'll be all right.”